Chapter 61: A New Task (2)
Despite it being early morning, there were still a few customers in Forest’s restaurant.
There weren’t many—just two or three—but as Oliver observed them quietly, it was clear that they weren’t ordinary patrons.
“They’re all Fixers.”
Al, who had been guiding him, quickly explained.
“I see.”
“Yes, a few diligent Fixers come by early every morning to see if there’s any good work available. Some are just here for breakfast, though. That’s why our restaurant opens early.”
“I see. Thank you for the detailed explanation.”
Oliver spoke sincerely. It was rare to meet someone so kind in their explanations... Al seemed like a genuinely good person.
“Oh, it’s nothing. It’s part of my job.”
“Hey, Al. Who’s that person?”
Just as Oliver and Al were about to enter the employee hallway, a woman called out.
She was sitting alone at a table draped in a white tablecloth.
On the table were a warm cup of tea and some pancakes, half of which were left unfinished as if she had lost her appetite.
The woman was dressed primly, almost like a lady, but the leather corset emphasizing her waist and chest gave her a provocative air.
Of course, Oliver didn’t notice such details at all.
“Good morning, Miss Coco. This is Dave, a new Fixer who arrived yesterday.”
“A new Fixer?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm...”
Coco showed a bright smile, clearly interested.
It was a very radiant smile, but beneath it, her movements were erratic, as if countless thoughts were racing through her mind.
“So Forest, that fussy old man, has taken on a new Fixer... how intriguing.”
“He’s proven himself with sufficient credibility and skill.”
“Ah... credibility, so he came on the recommendation of someone trustworthy? And if he’s proven his skills, hmm... could it be that he’s the one who took down the Chimera in V-District?”
Oliver’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
He had taken down the Chimera just yesterday. Could information really travel this fast?
“Haha. Don’t be too surprised. It’s part of my job, after all. My name is Coco. What’s your name?”
“I’m Dave.”
“Nice to meet you, Dave. Let’s meet again sometime.”
With a graceful movement unique to women, she stood up, left money for her meal on the table, and exited.
“...Who is she? A Fixer?”
“No, she’s an information dealer who works with the boss.”
“An information dealer?”
“Yes, she handles information, just as the title suggests. She’s also involved in various other businesses... Shall I take you to the boss now?”
Knock knock.
When Al knocked on the door, Forest was busy working on some paperwork.
Upon seeing Oliver enter, he finished signing a document and then organized the papers.
“Well, an unexpected guest this early in the morning.”
“I apologize if I’m causing any inconvenience.”
“No, not at all. I just wasn’t expecting it.”
“Is that so?”
“Usually, when someone earns tens of millions of Landa in a single day, they don’t come back for at least a few weeks. They take a break.”
“I had a good rest last night.”
Forest raised both hands and nodded as if he understood.
“Alright, enough small talk. You’re here for work, I assume?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Before I assign you a job, is there any kind of work you prefer or want to avoid?”
Forest asked while searching through his file cabinet.
Oliver thought for a moment before speaking.
“I don’t have any particular preferences, but I’d like to avoid jobs that harm ordinary people.”
“That’s a relief. I feel the same. While those jobs can be relatively easy and profitable, they tend to attract unwanted attention from the authorities. Plus, they’re not dignified. It’s fortunate that our preferences align.”
It was just as Kent had said.
Brokers, too, selected jobs according to their personal preferences, and as a result, the types of Fixers under each broker varied greatly.
It made sense; it would be hard to work with a broker whose style didn’t match.
“Hmm... there’s nothing suitable for you at the moment.”
“Really?”
“Yes, well, there are smaller tasks like hunting wanted criminals or capturing and exterminating polluted creatures, but the effort doesn’t justify the reward. You don’t want to waste your time on such trivial jobs, right? Especially since I’m sure that’s not your goal.”
Oliver remained silent, his silence confirming the truth of Forest’s words.
Earning money was important, but equally important was expanding his connections and getting closer to the Black Market.
But had he ever mentioned this to anyone?
“Don’t look at me like that. As you can see, I’m quite old, and I’ve been in this business a long time. I know that Fixers who reach a certain level aren’t just in it for the money. If it were just about the money, they’d either make drugs or join a Crime Firm.”
“...You’re very insightful.”
“Thanks for the compliment. I hope I didn’t offend you by acting like I know everything.”
“No, I wasn’t offended. If it’s alright with you, could you continue?”
“Continue what?”
“Your insights based on experience.”
Forest stared at Oliver silently for a moment.
“...”
“Did I make a mistake?”
“No, you didn’t. It’s just... unusual. Are you always this curious?”
“I think so.”
Forest looked at Oliver for a moment before speaking again.
“...Most black magic Fixers fall into two categories: those who do it by choice, and those who are forced into it. The latter are usually the ones who lack talent or have only dabbled in black magic, unable to even join a family.”
“I see.”
“The former group is more varied. Some are battle maniacs who love fighting, while others are ambitious, seeking greater power outside of black magic circles. Prove your worth as an outstanding black magician, and plenty of powerful figures will extend their hands to you. If you’re confident in your skills, it’s definitely possible.”
“I see.”
“But you don’t seem to fit into either of those categories. Your atmosphere is different. That’s not something you can hide. I’m just asking out of curiosity, so if you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to. Why are you doing Fixer work? Again, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. I prefer to maintain a certain distance from my clients.”
Oliver thought for a moment before speaking.
“...I want to use the Black Market.”
“The Black Market?”
“Yes, do you know of it?”
“No, I know similar places, but I don’t know much about the Black Market. Why do you want to use it?”
“It’s nothing special. I want to buy black magic books. I want to study black magic, but I don’t want to join an organization. They’d make me do things I don’t want to do, and it would take up too much of my time.”
“I see...”
Forest nodded slowly. He seemed like he wanted to ask more questions, but he restrained himself.
Oliver suddenly wondered if he had made a mistake.
Kent had advised him to be as cautious as possible, yet here he was, revealing a lot on the second day.
But it couldn’t be helped. Forest’s conversation had been rather interesting.
“I didn’t expect you to share so much after just two days. I’m glad you trust me.”
“I get too caught up when something interests me.”
“That seems to be the case... The Black Market, huh... In that case, how about this job? It’s not particularly lucrative, but it might be useful for building connections.”
Forest handed Oliver a file folder.
The folder was stiff and brown, with the letters "OF-M" stylishly written on the cover.
Oliver opened the folder.
On one side was a black-and-white photo of an overweight middle-aged man, and on the other side, there was information about him.
“Target name: Herbert, former associate professor of the Tower of Magic. The job is... retrieval?”
“That’s right. The client is someone from the Crime Firm.”
The Crime Firm.
Oliver had heard about it from Kent.
A massive criminal organization that spanned not only Landa but the entire Celland region.
They were said to control the underworld of Celland, although not without some internal strife and clashes with unaffiliated gangs, which prevented them from having absolute control. Still, their sheer numbers and scale were overwhelming, and they were considered the de facto rulers of the underworld.
Kent had warned him to avoid causing friction with them whenever possible, and if conflict was unavoidable, to ensure he had a solid backer to protect him.
“I’m not entirely clear on what ‘retrieval’ means. Could you explain it to me?”
“Of course. I was just about to. The person in the photo, as the file says, is a former associate professor at the Tower of Magic.”
“‘Former’ means he’s no longer with them?”
“That’s right. He was dismissed. Apparently, he was unhappy with being stuck as an associate professor for so long, so he started siphoning off materials from the Tower to illegally manufacture magical liquor. He was caught and expelled.”
“I see.”
“But as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. It turns out he had quite a talent for brewing, and the client, seeing potential, approached him with a business proposition—brewing magical liquor.”
Magical liquor.
A general term for alcohol infused with potions during the brewing process.
If made poorly, it could be fatal or cause serious side effects, but if made correctly, it was said to offer a unique taste and addictive properties that normal alcohol couldn’t match. It was an illegal substance due to its dangerous nature, the sacredness of potions, and the potential harm it posed to consumers.
Still, as Kent had mentioned, its illegal status only made it more valuable on the black market. He’d even admitted to enjoying it in his younger days.
“The associate professor didn’t jump at the offer right away. He hesitated, but eventually, the client paid him a hefty advance, and they signed a contract to start a magical liquor business.”
Oliver had a sense of where this story was heading.
“But just after the client handed over the money and called him to start the operation, the man vanished. He ran away. The client worked hard to track him down and finally located him a few weeks ago.”
Oliver checked the file again. The location...
“X-District, huh.”
“Correct. No matter how powerful the Crime Firm may be, X-District isn’t within their jurisdiction. It’s a lawless zone teeming with unaffiliated gangs and mercenary groups. The professor must have some nerve—setting up shop there to run his own operation.”
Oliver pondered for a moment, remembering the lightning mage he had encountered.
“Can I ask a question?”
“Go ahead.”
“Is it common for people from the Tower of Magic to end up like this?”
Forest considered the question before answering.
“Hmm... It’s become more common recently. The status, influence, and economic power of magicians have skyrocketed, but competition has intensified as well. As a result, we’re seeing more magicians entering this side of the world, leading to chaos. That’s why I’m offering you this job.”
“Not just yet, but some sharp-minded underworld figures and ambitious power brokers have already noticed that the world below is changing, just like the world above. It’s two sides of the same coin. They’re opposites, yet closely connected. Since magicians are being pushed into the shadows, those in the shadows feel they need to prepare accordingly. That’s why they’re looking for skilled Fixers.”
“If I take this job, will I be able to get my foot in the door?”
“There’s no guarantee, but it’s possible. At the very least, you’ll establish a connection with a member of the Crime Firm, even if it’s a lower-level one. And right now, they’re desperate for help. They’ll certainly appreciate it if you assist them.”
Forest’s words were genuine and made sense from a logical standpoint.
“But I’m not forcing you. Honestly, the job isn’t very profitable.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, the payment is 20 million Landa, but it’s a solo mission with no real support, and just stepping into X-District is already fraught with danger. In other words, the pay only just covers the risk.”
“...”
“On top of that, the conditions are tricky. It would be easier if it were just a matter of destruction or assassination, but they specifically want him retrieved alive. A few injuries won’t be a problem, but if he ends up permanently disabled or dead, it’s a failure.”
“It’s somewhat similar to the Chimera job, then.”
“There are differences, though. The Chimera was alone, but this man isn’t. With the money he made from selling magical liquor, he’s hired some local gangs, and according to our investigation, he’s also brought on professional mercenaries. And by the way, the mercenaries are black magicians.”
“Black magicians?”
“Yes, lately, the number of black magicians has been increasing as well. The reasons aren’t entirely clear, but it’s definitely more dangerous.”
“...If I take this job, will future work become easier?”
“Your reputation will grow, and more people will be willing to hire you. I’ll help you as well.”
Oliver could sense the sincerity in Forest’s words, and logically, there wasn’t anything wrong with what he was saying.
“However, I’m not pressuring you. Like I said, the job doesn’t offer great rewards.”
“I see.”
“The reward is 20 million Landa, but it’s a solo mission with little support, and going into X-District is dangerous enough. In short, it’s barely worth the risk.”
“...”
“Also, the conditions are strict. It’s not just about destroying something or assassinating someone. They want Herbert captured alive. While some injuries are permissible, they don’t want him crippled or dead.”
“It’s a bit like the Chimera case.”
“There are differences. The Chimera was a solitary target. Herbert isn’t. He’s hired local gangs with the profits he made from selling magical liquor, and according to our intel, he’s also hired black magicians as mercenaries.”
“Black magicians?”
“Yes. There’s been a sharp increase in the number of black magicians lately. The reasons are unclear, but it’s made the job far more dangerous.”
“...If I complete this task, will it make future jobs easier?”
“Word will spread about your skills, and you’ll have more clients seeking your services. I’ll also be there to support you.”
Forest was sincere, and his logic was sound.
“Alright, I’ll give it a try.”